Protesters say panic, products aren’t organic
March 12th, 2010, 4:10 pm · 5 Comments · posted by Pat Brennan, science, environment editor
Photo of Expo protest courtesy Organic Consumers Association
Cell phone and pocket cameras whirred and clicked as a group of about a dozen protesters got the Natural Products Expo off to a raucous start Friday at the Anaheim Convention Center.
“If it doesn’t have a seal, it ain’t the real deal,” the protesters chanted over a loudspeaker, as well as, “Expo Panic! These brands are not organic.”
They also held up 5-foot signs mocking shampoo bottles of several brands.
The group, from the Organic Consumers Association, contends that shampoo, makeup and other personal care products — some on display inside the convention hall — lack a seal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would certify them as organic.
But even as the protesters attracted the attention of convention-goers, mostly retailers checking out new products they could potentially offer for sale on store shelves, they attracted the attention of the police as well.
The group’s national director, Ronnie Cummins, said he was cited by Anaheim police for a misdemeanor involving illegal use of a sound system — and his portable sound system was taken away. He was given an April 28 court date to face the charge.
“We’re the police over organic standards in the organic industry,” Cummins said later. “We’re making headway; a bunch of companies have reformulated their products. But there’s still some of what we call organic imposters, waiting till they’re forced absolutely to change.”
Food labeled as organic generally is, he said, but standards lag among some personal-care product makers.
Others, including Fred Linder, president of New Hope Media which is running the event, said there are differences of opinion about which standards such companies should meet, but that the presence of the protesters shows the trade show is “alive and well.”
It is open only to businesses, not the general public, and is expected to draw 50,000 people by its close on Sunday. Some 1,700 companies are displaying their wares, including more than 70 Orange County companies. Check out the video to see what goes on inside.
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Morons protesting against idiots.
Perfect.
I love it.
What is moronic about not wanting to each pesticides?
Just because something is labeled “natural” does not necessarily make it “organic” according to industry standards. The protesters are being a bit ridiculous. After all, even things like eggs are natural, but not all are considered organic – to be “certified organic, products must be grown and/or manufactured in a manner that adheres to standards set by the country they are sold in” according to Wikipedia.
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It’s not ridiculous or moronic. They are protesting the fact that the products are misleading. They are labeled as “organic,” but do not comply with the National Organic Production standards. They are labeled as “organic,” but have synthetic chemicals in them, many of which are banned substances in other countries!
How can a consumer be sure the products they are buying are actually organic if any manufacturer can slap the word on whatever they want?
Whole Foods sells Organic Broccoli for $6.99/lb and Conventionally grown Broccoli for $3.99/lb Stater Brothers just sold Broccoli for $0.79/lb When will the gap narrow? When will WFM stop gouching consumers for simply wanting pesticide and synthetic chemically free foods ? When will Stater Brothers stop buying the cheapest food that science (not nature) can produce. By the way professor: These are rhetorical questions. I am joining the local food cooperative that sells and delivers fresh organic local produce.